UAW eyes working with VW in Chattanooga

UAW eyes working with VW in Chattanooga

Workers assemble Volkswagen Passat sedans at the German automaker's plant in Chattanooga.

Workers assemble Volkswagen Passat sedans at the German...

Photo by
Associated Press
/Times Free Press.

The United Auto Workers said today they're looking forward to working with Volkswagen and its global works council at the automaker's Chattanooga plant in the wake of confidential meetings between top UAW and VW officials in Germany last week.

The meeting focused on the "appropriate paths, consistent with American law, for arriving at both Volkswagen recognition of UAW representation at its Chattanooga facility and establishment of a German-style works council," the union said in a statement.

"We look forward to future discussions," the UAW said.

Earlier this year, the two parties met and the talks last week were described by the UAW as a continuation of those discussions.

The UAW has been asking VW's plant workers in the city to sign cards authorizing the union to represent them. The plant's top managers, in a letter to workers Thursday, said a works council labor board "can only be realized together with a trade union."

The UAW said in its statement that if Chattanooga workers choose to have representation and a works council, "the UAW is committed to engaging with VW in open, fair and respectful dialogue to create an environment where Tennessee workers can participate in VW's global work council system."